Manchester United have been criticised for selling an ‘extraordinary’ player for a ‘bargain’ price during the summer.
Ruben Amorim sanctioned the departure of seven first-team regulars over the summer including Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony.
The Red Devils also offloaded Rasmus Hojlund around two years after he arrived at Old Trafford in a £72m move from Atalanta.
Hojlund endured two difficult seasons at Manchester United, scoring 26 goals in 95 appearances, before joining Napoli on loan at the start of the month.
The 22-year-old will join the Serie A champions on a permanent £38m transfer next summer if certain conditions are met, including Antonio Conte’s side qualifying for the Champions League.
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United opted to move on Hojlund after signing Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig in a deal worth £74m.
But ex-Napoli midfielder Ivano Trotta has questioned Manchester United’s decision and says his former club have signed an ‘extraordinary’ player with ‘great potential’.
It took just 14 minutes for Hojlund to score for Napoli on his debut and the striker is expected to start the club’s opening Champions League game against Manchester City on Thursday night.
‘Rasmus Hojlund is an extraordinary player,’ Trotta told 1 Station Radio. ‘He really impressed me [on his debut] against Fiorentina.
‘He has incredible qualities. The €40-50m spent is justified because we are talking about a young talent with great potential.
‘In the end, things turned out well because Hojlund has shown himself to be a very strong footballer, and for the price Napoli paid, they got a bargain.
‘In just 14 minutes, he scored a goal as a pure striker. It wasn’t easy to read that vertical pass from Spinazzola and avoid being caught offside. He has the traits of a top player.
‘That goal was extremely difficult because the defender was closing in, and he used his body perfectly to hold his position, while keeping composure.
‘However, what impressed me the most was his ability to help the team move up the pitch. When Napoli played quick, vertical passes, he shielded the ball, and the defender couldn’t get in front of him.
‘That is decisive. He’s a strong player, with great potential and in my opinion, Napoli even underpaid for the great value he brings. Once again, they’ve made a great signing.’
Hojlund said he enjoyed his ‘special time’ at Manchester United but insisted he ‘had’ to leave following the club’s transfer business.
As well as signing Sesko in the summer, Amorim also welcomed fellow attackers Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to the Theatre of Dreams.
‘My prospects for playing time diminished as they brought in reinforcements for my position,’ Hojlund told TV2 Sport.
‘With my age and ambitions, I had to find a place where they believe in me, give me a lot of love, and offer a good sporting package.
‘I feel 100 percent that I have found it with Napoli. It’s something I’m really, really looking forward to.’
On his time at Manchester United, Hojlund added: ‘It has been really, really good.
‘I have been happy to play there, and it is a club close to my heart. I have gained a lot of experience and toughness. It has given me some good experiences and less good experiences.
‘It has been a good time I have had in England. Especially my first year when I became the leading goalscorer and won a trophy. It was really, really special.’
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